Political Blotter » Lynn Woolseyhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics
Politics in the Bay Area and beyondFri, 31 Jul 2015 21:59:01 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3California national marine sanctuaries expandedhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2015/03/12/california-national-marine-sanctuaries-expanded/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2015/03/12/california-national-marine-sanctuaries-expanded/#commentsThu, 12 Mar 2015 20:24:54 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=29141California politicos are praising the expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries, which will double their size and permanently protect a stretch of coastline in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published its final rule on the expansion, after a two-year process that included […]]]>

California politicos are praising the expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries, which will double their size and permanently protect a stretch of coastline in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and former Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, had carried legislation to expand the sanctuaries, and had urged the Obama Administration to use its executive authority to protect the area.

“I am grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision which will more than double these magnificent national marine sanctuaries off the California coast and permanently protect one of the most productive coastal ocean regions on the planet,” Boxer said Thursday.

Boxer’s office said the expansion will help support the more than half a million jobs and over $34 billion in economic activity that depend on ocean tourism, recreation, and fishing in California.

It also will permanently protect important habitat for at least 25 threatened or endangered species, including blue whales, humpback whales, northern fur seals and leatherback turtles – California’s official marine reptile; spectacular living reefs of corals and sponges; one-third of the world’s whale and dolphin species; at least 163 bird species, including the largest colony of seabirds in the continental U.S.; and more than 300 species of fish, including commercially valuable salmon and groundfish.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said the “nation’s oceans and coasts are among our greatest ecological treasures,” and credited Woolsey and Boxer with the win. “Together, we will continue to act to secure God’s beautiful creation for generations to come.”

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2015/03/12/california-national-marine-sanctuaries-expanded/feed/4marine sanctuariesIs the Bay Area’s House policy clout fading?http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2014/11/20/is-the-bay-areas-house-policy-clout-fading/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2014/11/20/is-the-bay-areas-house-policy-clout-fading/#commentsThu, 20 Nov 2014 19:55:21 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=28176For the first time in a long, long time, the Bay Area is without any committee chairs or ranking members in the House. Of course, the region still is home to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. But with the retirement of Rep. George Miller, the Education and the Workforce Committee’s ranking Democrat and […]]]>

For the first time in a long, long time, the Bay Area is without any committee chairs or ranking members in the House.

Of course, the region still is home to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. But with the retirement of Rep. George Miller, the Education and the Workforce Committee’s ranking Democrat and former chairman, the region’s policy influence seems blunted. It’s a far cry from 2007, when Miller chaired his committee, the late Rep. Tom Lantos chaired Foreign Affairs, and Pelosi was Speaker.

As I wrote yesterday, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, lost her bid – despite Pelosi’s strong support – to leapfrog a more senior member and become the Energy and Commerce Committee’s ranking member. And though Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, announced earlier this month that he would seek to become Transportation and Infrastructure’s ranking member, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., won that vote Wednesday.

“Peter has been my friend throughout my time here and that will continue,” Garamendi said after the vote. “Peter and I share a strong commitment to a ‘Make It In America’ agenda and trade policies that protect the environment, workers’ rights, and middle-class families. Working together, we can lead our party in addressing a range of transportation and infrastructure challenges, including water infrastructure, surface transportation, FAA, and Amtrak authorizations.”

That’s not to say the Bay Area will be without a voice. Several Bay Area members are likely to remain the ranking members on key subcommittees (like Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security).

And Pelosi appointed two local congressmen – Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, and Mike Thompson, D-Napa – to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which helps set the caucus’ policy agenda and nominates Democratic members for committee assignments. (They replace Pelosi’s local appointments from the 113th Congress, Miller and Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo.)

“As a member of the next generation of our caucus, I look forward to working in a collaborative way to promote the policies that will lift up all Americans,” Swalwell said.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, will continue serving on that Democratic committee, having won re-election as a regional representative.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2014/11/20/is-the-bay-areas-house-policy-clout-fading/feed/2Lynn Woolsey on panel at UFO hearinghttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2013/04/30/lynn-woolsey-on-panel-at-ufo-hearing/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2013/04/30/lynn-woolsey-on-panel-at-ufo-hearing/#commentsTue, 30 Apr 2013 20:31:01 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=22964Lynn Woolsey, phone home. The former North Bay House member is one of six former members of Congress who are taking testimony at a public hearing this at the National Press Club on what the U.S. government really knows about extraterrestrial life. Yes. Really. “The Citizen Hearing on Disclosure of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the […]]]>

The former North Bay House member is one of six former members of Congress who are taking testimony at a public hearing this at the National Press Club on what the U.S. government really knows about extraterrestrial life.

Yes. Really.

“The Citizen Hearing on Disclosure of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race will attempt to accomplish what the Congress has failed to do for forty-five years – seek out the facts surrounding the most important issue of this or any other time,” according to the hearing’s website.

The multi-day hearing, which started Monday and ends Friday, promises testimony from about 40 researchers and military/agency witnesses and is being live-streamed in English and Spanish – but it’s viewable only after paying a $3.80 subscription.

The event was organized by the Paradigm Research Group – a UFO conspiracy-theory group in Bethesda, Md., founded by activist Stephen Bassett, which invited the former lawmakers to use their House-honed skills in interviewing witnesses.

The White House in November 2011 answered a pair of petitions seeking disclosure of information on extraterrestrial life – including a petition launched by Bassett – by stating “the U.S. government has no evidence that any life exists outside our planet, or that an extraterrestrial presence has contacted or engaged any member of the human race. In addition, there is no credible information to suggest that any evidence is being hidden from the public’s eye.”

Woolsey, 75, retired last year after 10 terms in the House; she was succeeded by Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2013/04/30/lynn-woolsey-on-panel-at-ufo-hearing/feed/5Pelosi bids ‘adieu’ to Lynn Woolsey, Pete Starkhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/13/pelosi-bids-adieu-to-lynn-woolsey-pete-stark/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/13/pelosi-bids-adieu-to-lynn-woolsey-pete-stark/#commentsThu, 13 Dec 2012 17:51:02 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=21752House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, took a break from the rhetorical carpet-bombing of the fiscal cliff faceoff yesterday for a floor speech thanking the departing California Democrats, including two from the Bay Area – one who retired, and one who was unseated. “Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I thank you for yielding, Mr. Miller. […]]]>

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, took a break from the rhetorical carpet-bombing of the fiscal cliff faceoff yesterday for a floor speech thanking the departing California Democrats, including two from the Bay Area – one who retired, and one who was unseated.

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I thank you for yielding, Mr. Miller. I know that we have a time limitation so I will begin by associating myself with the remarks of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo who spoke so beautifully and knowledgeably about our colleagues who are leaving, who are from California, who are leaving. I rise today to thank my colleagues, who are our friends, and our partners from the great state of California.

“The Members we honor in this special order – I’m just going to do this cause its way down low.

[Leader Pelosi Adjusts Podium Height]

“Recognize the, demonstrate the extraordinary diversity of our great Golden State. They hail from northern California and southern California, from the Bay Area, to the greater Los Angeles [area], to San Diego. They bring Californians’ wide range of interests, and aspirations to the floor of the House every day. Working side-by-side with the entire California delegation, their service, our service has strengthened the Golden State; the commitment of our departing Members has strengthened the Congress; their achievements have advanced the character of our country. Each of these Members has brought a unique voice to the table; yet each shares the same core values – a devotion to public service, a dedication to opportunity, a belief in the promise of America.

“Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey spent her career fighting to improve the education of our children, the economic security of their families, the protection of our workers, as well as our coastline, as Congresswoman Eshoo mentioned. With her departure, I won’t say retirement because she is not a retiring person, the Bay Area loses a powerful advocate in Congress and the nation loses a tireless progressive leader. It was, I think, Mr. Miller said ‘400 times that Lynn Woolsey came to the floor to speak against the war, our involvement in the war in Iraq.’ Thank you, Congresswoman Woolsey. So, it’s about the patriotism of this Congress and of the participation as patriots of our colleagues from California.

“Whether it’s the education of our children, whether it is the health of our people as demonstrated by Congressman Pete Stark. Why we all owe you Pete Stark, a great debt of gratitude. He has been a fixture in the fight to build and strengthen the pillars of health and economic security for the American people. From his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, to the House floor, he always remained a fierce fighter for Medicare and a passionate advocate for the Affordable Care Act because he believed that health care was a right for all Americans, not a privilege just for the few. His legacy will live long in a stronger support for the well-being of our seniors, our families, and our middle class. I hope it is a source of pride, I know it is to your family, that so many of your colleagues respect you so much and honor your leadership and service here.”

More, after the jump…

“As has been mentioned, Congressman Filner left us, he’s already the Mayor of San Diego. He was a Freedom [Rider], who fought for civil rights and equality. He was a representative of San Diego, who never wavered in support of our veterans and he served as the Chair of that Committee. We wish him well as Mayor of San Diego

“Congresswoman Richardson has dedicated her time in Congress to rebuilding infrastructure, advancing the dream of high-speed rail, securing our borders, and protecting our environment. We wish her well as she goes forward.

“Congressman Berman – we go from ‘B’ to ‘W,’ Berman to Woolsey, and every wonderful thing in between. Congressman Berman’s imprint can be found on legislation across the broad spectrum of issues before the House. Many of us knew him long before he came to Congress, knew of his work working with the farmworkers, working for labor laws to protect the rights of workers and in two particular areas his expertise is simply unsurpassed. He was a true expert on international relations, a past Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ranking Member now, a champion of aid to Israel, the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the toughest Iran sanctions in the history of our country. He is [a] senior Member of the Judiciary Committee who, it’s safe to say, understands intellectual property, understands their importance even mentioned in our Constitution, and he understands the challenges and the opportunities they present. In every venue and every arena, he has been a proud advocate for Los Angeles, and California, a cherished leader for the entire House.

“Joe Baca is a lifelong public servant, a paratrooper in the U.S. Army’s 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. He served in California’s state legislature. In Congress, he made his mark standing firm against harmful anti-immigrant measures and leading the effort to expand food stamps and nutrition assistance for those who need it most. That’s the most simple sentence and it’s fraught with meaning, a lot of work and leadership that he put into it on the Farm bill. Joe Baca came from humble beginnings, yet his accomplishments have been truly significant.

“The list goes on and on of our colleagues that Congresswoman Eshoo mentioned. For all of these Members, public service has been a calling, a cause, and a core facet of their character. California has been proud to have them as our representatives in Congress. For those of us who served with them, it is an honor to call each of you ‘colleague;’ for some of us a very, very special honor to be considered your friend. We all wish you, we wish of you much success in the years ahead, we look forward to coming, to continuing our work together on behalf of our great Golden State of California. Your service in Congress added to the luster of our Golden State.

“Thank you and congratulations.”

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/13/pelosi-bids-adieu-to-lynn-woolsey-pete-stark/feed/3John BoehnerWoolsey gives her 444th, final antiwar speechhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/12/woolsey-gives-her-444th-final-antiwar-speech/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/12/woolsey-gives-her-444th-final-antiwar-speech/#commentsWed, 12 Dec 2012 22:20:42 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=21735Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who is retiring from Congress in a few weeks, this morning delivered her 444th and final special order speech expressing her opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and her support for a “smart” approach to national security: Woolsey, D-San Rafael, will be succeeded in the next Congress by Rep.-elect Jared […]]]>

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who is retiring from Congress in a few weeks, this morning delivered her 444th and final special order speech expressing her opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and her support for a “smart” approach to national security:

Woolsey, D-San Rafael, will be succeeded in the next Congress by Rep.-elect Jared Huffman, a fellow Democrat; the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge’s north end to the Oregon border.

Read the text of Woolsey’s speech as prepared, after the jump…

“Mister Speaker, throughout my career in public life and even before, nothing has motivated me more than a desire for an end to wars and violent conflict. When I was a small girl saying my bedtime prayers, I would pray for world peace.

“A decade ago, I opposed the Iraq war before it even started. I was appalled that we would invade a nation that hadn’t provoked us; had nothing to do with 9/11; and did not have weapons of mass destruction.

“It was a lonely fight at times, but I didn’t do it to be loved; it was a matter of principle. Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters and I formed ‘The Triad’ to organize our opposition. We held forums. We developed an Out of Iraq Caucus. And in January of 2005, I offered the first amendment calling for our troops to be brought home. Some in my own party thought that was a mistake. I told them I would do it even if I were the only member to vote for it. As it happened, we got 128 bipartisan votes.

“When you lead, people follow. Because a handful of progressives were vocal and fearless, eventually public opinion turned against the Iraq war. If we and other outspoken advocates hadn’t ignored the conventional wisdom and continued pressing for peace, the war in Iraq would still be going on today.

“In April 2004, I started speaking from this spot on the House floor about my strong anti-Iraq war convictions. Eventually, my speeches focused on Afghanistan, where we’ve now been waging war for more than 11 years — despite more than 2,000 Americans dead and nearly $600 billion wasted; even though we are undermining our own interests and failing to bring security and stability to Afghanistan.

“Over the last eight-plus years, I have spoken here in this spot nearly every day that I could, to drive home what a moral disaster and strategic failure these wars have been.

“But these speeches haven’t just been about bringing our troops home. They have offered a new vision for global engagement. From here, I have outlined my Smart Security platform, which calls for development and diplomacy instead of invasions and occupations; civilian surges instead of military surges.

“Smart Security means helping other nations educate their children, care for their sick, and strengthen their democratic institutions. Smart Security says: we can make America safe by building international good will, by empowering people with humanitarian assistance instead of sending troops or launching drone attacks. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do. And it costs pennies on the dollar compared to military force.

“Today, I am delivering that message for the 444th and final time on the House floor. This is the last of my special order speeches on war and peace and Smart Security. I am retiring from Congress in the next few weeks, and I believe my legacy will be that I worked diligently for peace and a safer world.

“I’ve sometimes been accused of wanting ‘a perfect world.’ But I consider it a compliment. Our founders strove to form a ‘more perfect union’ – why shouldn’t we aim for a perfect world? I am absolutely certain that if we don’t work toward a ‘perfect world,’ we won’t ever come close to providing a safe, healthy and secure world for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.”

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/12/woolsey-gives-her-444th-final-antiwar-speech/feed/2Local House members seek targeted defense cutshttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/10/local-house-members-seek-targeted-defense-cuts/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/10/local-house-members-seek-targeted-defense-cuts/#commentsTue, 11 Dec 2012 01:26:22 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=21706Three Bay Area House members were among a bipartisan contingent that asked President Obama and congressional leaders Monday to find targeted but substantial cuts in defense spending as part of the “fiscal cliff” negotiations. The letter’s 22 signatories included Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland; Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-San Rafael; and Rep. Mike Honda, D-Campbell. “The Pentagon’s […]]]>

Three Bay Area House members were among a bipartisan contingent that asked President Obama and congressional leaders Monday to find targeted but substantial cuts in defense spending as part of the “fiscal cliff” negotiations.

“The Pentagon’s budget has increased dramatically over the last decade, due in large part to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,” they wrote. “As we transition from wartime to peacetime, and as we confront our nation’s fiscal challenges, future defense budgets should reflect the conclusion of these wars and acknowledge that our modern military is able to approach conflicts utilizing fewer – but more advanced – resources. Congress must consider these changes, not past spending or percentages of GDP, and move toward defense budgeting that focuses on meeting specific military requirements.”

The sequestration scheduled to hit in January – enacted under the mid-2011 budget deal that ended that summer’s debt-limit standoff – will mean $110 billion in cuts, split evenly between defense spending and discretionary domestic spending. But these are across-the-board cuts, affecting all programs regardless of utility; lawmakers on both sides of the aisle see this as surgery with a chainsaw rather than a scalpel.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/12/10/local-house-members-seek-targeted-defense-cuts/feed/4Your state and Bay Area House-race rounduphttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/11/07/your-state-and-bay-area-house-race-roundup/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/11/07/your-state-and-bay-area-house-race-roundup/#commentsWed, 07 Nov 2012 19:57:08 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=21432All in all, it was a dismal night for Republicans in California House races. Of the 11 California House races deemed competitive by the renowned Cook Political Report, Democrats won seven outright and are on top in two too-close-to-call other races. Another way of slicing and dicing it: All of the three endangered Democratic incumbents […]]]>

All in all, it was a dismal night for Republicans in California House races.

Of the 11 California House races deemed competitive by the renowned Cook Political Report, Democrats won seven outright and are on top in two too-close-to-call other races. Another way of slicing and dicing it: All of the three endangered Democratic incumbents in these races won re-election, but only one of the four Republicans might’ve. And of the new or open seats, Democrats won three of the four.

More specifically:

The battles to unseat Reps. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, and Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, remain too close to call with some mail-in and provisional ballots yet to be counted, but both trail their Democratic challengers by narrow margins.

Reps. Jerry McNerney; John Garamendi, D-Fairfield; and Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara all turned away their Republican challengers to win re-election. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Modesto, is the only Republican incumbent definitely left standing in these competitive races.

Not than anyone considered it competitive, but Democrat Jared Huffman trounced Republican Dan Roberts to succeed Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-San Rafael, in the North Bay’s newly drawn 2nd Congressional District, which reaches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.

In the Bay Area, as usual, the only question for most Democratic incumbents (with the exception, of course, of Pete Stark) was by how enormous a margin they would dispatch their challengers. See how that all stacks up as of this hour, after the jump…

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/11/07/your-state-and-bay-area-house-race-roundup/feed/7Miller leads Dems in pushing minimum wage hikehttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/07/26/miller-leads-dems-in-pushing-minimum-wage-hike/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/07/26/miller-leads-dems-in-pushing-minimum-wage-hike/#commentsThu, 26 Jul 2012 18:07:58 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=20507Rep. George Miller led more than 100 House Democrats today in introducing a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $9.80 per hour. The minimum wage was last increased in 2009, but this would be the first increase for tipped-workers in 21 years. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is expected to introduce companion legislation […]]]>

Rep. George Miller led more than 100 House Democrats today in introducing a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $9.80 per hour.

The minimum wage was last increased in 2009, but this would be the first increase for tipped-workers in 21 years. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is expected to introduce companion legislation today.

“Raising the minimum wage at its core is about respecting and valuing work. No one who works hard every day and plays by the rules should live in poverty,” said Miller, D-Martinez, the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s ranking Democrat.

“Increasing workers’ paychecks will help millions of working families make ends meet and help the nation’s economy grow,” he said in a news release. “It is time for Congress to stand up for working people for a change and for Washington Republicans to stop using their position in Congress only to benefit wealthy special interests. They should join Democrats in ensuring a well-deserved raise for millions of honest, hardworking Americans.”

Miller was the House author of the 2007 bill that increased the minimum wage to $7.25 following 10 years without any increases.

Miller’s new H.R. 6211, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012, would increase the minimum wage in three 85-cent steps, over three years, from $7.25 to $9.80 per hour; after that, the rate would then be indexed to inflation each year. The bill also would increase the required cash wage for tipped workers in annual 85 cent increases, from today’s $2.13 per hour until the tip credit reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage.

Expect this to be dead on arrival in the Republican-run House; many conservatives believe requiring employers to pay higher minimum wages makes them less likely to hire or retain less-skilled workers, thus increasing unemployment.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in January said his preference would be “to allow the minimum wage to rise with the CPI or with another index so it adjusts automatically over time” – much as these Democrats are now proposing after the initial three-step, three-year increase. He seemed to walk that statement back a bit in March, when he said he favors reviewing the minimum wage periodically but there’s “probably not a need to raise” it now.

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/07/26/miller-leads-dems-in-pushing-minimum-wage-hike/feed/0Pete Stark wants Olympic uniforms made in USAhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/07/17/pete-stark-wants-olympic-uniforms-made-in-usa/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/07/17/pete-stark-wants-olympic-uniforms-made-in-usa/#commentsTue, 17 Jul 2012 20:48:00 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=20407Rep. Pete Stark is helping to leading House members from both sides of the aisle in a hearty chant of “USA, USA, USA” over the issue of where U.S. Olympians’ uniforms should be made. Stark, D-Fremont, along with Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Me., led 59 members in sending a letter to the U.S. Olympic Committee today […]]]>

Rep. Pete Stark is helping to leading House members from both sides of the aisle in a hearty chant of “USA, USA, USA” over the issue of where U.S. Olympians’ uniforms should be made.

Stark, D-Fremont, along with Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Me., led 59 members in sending a letter to the U.S. Olympic Committee today urging that Team USA’s uniforms be made in the United States from now on. This year, the athletes’ couture was designed by Ralph Lauren – an American-based company – but manufactured in China.

“We don’t outsource the athletes who represent the United States in the Olympics and we shouldn’t outsource the manufacturing of Team USA’s uniforms,” Stark said in a news release. “The fact that our American uniforms were made in China is a glaring reminder that we’ve gotten away from a core value: our country’s success is built on the innovation and industriousness of the American worker. When we deviate from that, we fail. That is why we’re calling on the U.S. Olympic Committee to reflect these values and ensure that Team USA’s uniforms are made in America.”

But it seems the lawmakers’ request was already granted before the letter was sent.

U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun issued a statement Friday saying his organization takes seriously the concerns it has heard from Congress and the public.

“With athletes having already arrived in London, and the apparel distribution process beginning this weekend, we are unfortunately not able to make a change for London,” he said. “We are absolutely committed, however, to working with our sponsors to ensure that the concerns voiced are addressed. To that end, Ralph Lauren has agreed to domestically manufacture Team USA’s apparel for Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.”

UPDATE @ 2:44 P.M.: This just in from Stark’s Twitter account: “We’re calling on USOC to implement Make it in the USA policy. USOC’s Friday statement doesn’t reflect policy change”

]]>http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/07/17/pete-stark-wants-olympic-uniforms-made-in-usa/feed/2Lawmakers boycott contempt vote on Holderhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/06/28/lawmakers-boycott-contempt-vote-on-holder/
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/06/28/lawmakers-boycott-contempt-vote-on-holder/#commentsThu, 28 Jun 2012 21:27:19 +0000http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=20222The House voted 255-67 today to hold U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for allegedly stonewalling over documents relating to the probe of the Fast and Furious “gunwalking” operation on the U.S.-Mexico border. But more than 100 Democrats left the House floor to boycott the vote, including several Bay Area lawmakers: Barbara […]]]>

“I cannot and will not participate in this hyper-partisan and purely political vote today to hold Attorney General in contempt of Congress,” Lee said in a news release.

“Contempt power should be used sparingly, carefully and only in the most egregious situations. The Attorney General has gone above and beyond in his response to request for information on “Fast and Furious”, an unfortunate operation that began under the Bush Administration and, in fact, was terminated by Attorney General Holder,” she said. “This contempt vote is unprecedented, unwarranted and entirely unnecessary. Gandhi once said that ‘Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation with good.’ That is why I am standing with so many of my colleagues in refusing to participate in this shameful Republican political stunt.”

Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, called for the vote with this statement:

“It’s important for the American people to know how we got here and to know the facts of this case. The Congress asked the Department of Justice for the facts related to Fast and Furious and the events that led to the death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The Department of Justice did not provide the facts and the information that we requested. Instead, the information came from people outside the Department, people who wanted to do the right thing. In addition to not providing the information, the Administration admitted to misleading Congress, actually retracting a letter it had sent 10 months earlier.

“I think all the Members understand this is a very serious matter. The Terry family wants to know how this happened and they have every right to have their answers. The House needs to know how this happened, and it is our constitutional duty to find out. So the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee issued a lawful and narrowly tailored subpoena. We’ve been patient, giving the Justice Department every opportunity to comply, so that we can get to the bottom of this for the Terry family. We’ve shown more than enough good faith, but the White House has chosen to invoke executive privilege. That leaves us no other options. The only recourse left for the House is to continue seeking the truth and to hold Attorney General in contempt of Congress.

“Now I don’t take this matter lightly, and I frankly hoped it would never come to this. The House’s focus is on jobs and on the economy. But no Justice Department is above the law and no Justice Department is above the Constitution, which each of us has sworn an oath to uphold. So I ask the Members of this body to come together and to support this resolution so that we can seek the answers that the Terry family and the American people deserve.”

After the vote, Holder issued a statement which is presented in its entirety after the jump…

“Today’s vote is the regrettable culmination of what became a misguided – and politically motivated – investigation during an election year. By advancing it over the past year and a half, Congressman Issa and others have focused on politics over public safety. Instead of trying to correct the problems that led to a series of flawed law enforcement operations, and instead of helping us find ways to better protect the brave law enforcement officers, like Agent Brian Terry, who keep us safe – they have led us to this unnecessary and unwarranted outcome.

“During this time, the men and women of the Department of Justice – and I – have remained focused on what should and must be our government’s top priority: protecting the American people.

“When concerns about Operation Fast and Furious first came to light, I took action – and ordered an independent investigation into what happened. We learned that the flawed tactics used in this operation began in the previous administration – but I made sure that they ended under this one. I also made sure that agents and prosecutors around the country knew that such tactics must never be used again. I put in place new policies, new safeguards, and new leadership to make certain of this – and took extraordinary steps to facilitate robust congressional oversight. Let me be very clear – that was my response to Operation Fast and Furious. Any suggestion to the contrary simply ignores the facts.

“I had hoped that Congressional leaders would be good-faith partners in this work. Some have. Others, however, have devoted their time and attention to making reckless charges – unsupported by fact – and to advancing truly absurd conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, these same members of Congress were nowhere to be found when the Justice Department and others invited them to help look for real solutions to the terrible problem of violence on both sides of our Southwest Border. That’s tragic, and it’s irresponsible. The problem of drugs and weapons trafficking across this border is a real and significant public safety threat – and it deserves the attention of every leader in Washington.

“In the face of these and other challenges, the Justice Department has continued to move forward in fulfilling its critical law enforcement responsibilities. Whether it is with regard to prosecuting financial and health care fraud, achieving a record mortgage settlement, taking aggressive action in protecting the most vulnerable among us, or challenging proposed voting changes and redistricting maps that could disenfranchise millions of voters – this Department of Justice has not been afraid to act.

“Some of these enforcement decisions were not politically popular and help to explain the action taken today by the House. As Attorney General, I do not look to do that which is politically expedient – on behalf of the American people whom I am privileged to serve, I seek justice.

“In recent weeks, the Justice Department secured its seventh conviction in the most serious terrorist plot our nation has faced since 9/11. And just two days ago, the Department awarded more than $100 million in grants to save or create law enforcement jobs, including more than 600 jobs for recent veterans.

“This is the kind of work that leaders in Washington should be striving together to advance. At a time when so many Americans are in need of our help, I refuse to be deterred from it. And I will not let election-year politics and gamesmanship stand in the way of continued progress.

“Today’s vote may make for good political theater in the minds of some, but it is – at base – both a crass effort and a grave disservice to the American people. They expect – and deserve – far better.

“As a result of the action taken today by the House, an unnecessary court conflict will ensue. My efforts to resolve this matter short of such a battle were rebuffed by Congressman Issa and his supporters. It’s clear that they were not interested in bringing an end to this dispute or obtaining the information they claimed to seek. Ultimately, their goal was the vote that – with the help of special interests – they now have engineered.

“Whatever the path that this matter will now follow, it will not distract me or the men and women of the Department of Justice from the important tasks that are our responsibility. A great deal of work for the American people remains to be done – I’m getting back to it. I suggest that those who orchestrated today’s vote do the same.”